Airbag Injuries

Air bags are safety devises developed to save the lives of people involved in auto accidents. In the event of impact, the air bags are designed to deploy at a rapid rate sometimes up to 200 mph, thus preventing serious injury to the passengers. However, alarming rates of injuries have been reported due to the deployment of air bags. There are different types of injuries, failure of bags to deploy, defective deployment and deployment to passengers who are positioned close to the air bags.

Air Bag Statistics - According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

· Airbags have caused over 200 deaths since 1990, with most of the deaths being children

· Airbags cause more incidental injuries and broken bones than deaths in children.

· Infants in rear-facing safety seats in the front seat, and those who sit closer than 10 inches to the steering wheel put themselves at a much higher risk

· 119 of the reported deaths were children between the ages of 1 and 11, and 22 infants

· 76 adult drivers were killed, with 28 of these deaths being women under 5 feet 2 inches tall

Air bags are designed to prevent injury to an adult around 5’8” and 180 lbs. When a driver or passenger of smaller stature sits closer to the air bag serious injury or even death may result. While injuries are more common than death, the true statistics are difficult to keep as injuries are voluntarily reported and information is neither verified nor investigated.

The NHTSA has developed a tool called S.C.E.N.E. acronym. This is a guide for information that EMS responders should use at the scene of an accident.

S – Steering wheel deformation

Check for a bent steering wheel. Check the hands and forearms to see if there is incorrect hand position in the path of the airbag. Make sure that the feet and legs were not placed on top of the dashboard or over the passenger side airbag (PAB). If the airbag or its cover were blown off, check for the path and match to the injury of the passenger.

C – Close proximity of the driver to the steering wheel or the passenger side airbag in the dash.

When a passenger is sitting closer to the dashboard (like 10 inches) in the case of the driver, or 24 inches in the case of the dashboard such as a shorter passenger or child the impact is much more intense and the risk for injury is increased. Neglecting to wear a seatbelt and causing the passenger to be propelled against the dashboard, thus placing the passenger in the “danger zone” of 4 to 6 inches from the dashboard.

E - Energy of the crash

The passenger compartment should be well intact and none of the integrity of the “safety cage” should be compromised. Twenty or more inches of vehicle crush show a high crash force, capable of causing serious internal injury.

N - Non-use or incorrect use of safety belts or child safety seats

Incorrect use or failure to use a seatbelt contributes to a greater possibility of internal injuries due to multiple impacts from lack of restraint. This includes partial use of a seatbelt such as across the abdomen with shoulder belt behind passenger or failure to properly secure child seats.

E - Eyewitness reports

It is vitally important to document photos of not only the interior as well as the outside of the vehicle, with particular attention to the airbag deployment area. As much as possible, if you feel you have been the victim of an airbag failure, it is vitally important to preserve as much of the auto as possible from the condition at the time of impact. Do not have the auto repaired as this may damage any evidence. Airbags only deploy one time, so secondary impacts leave the passenger at risk for additional injury.

In the event the airbag fails to deploy, the same caution should be taken to preserve the auto’s interior. Point of impact and speed of the vehicle upon impact are all factors that may affect the deployment of the airbag. While obvious injuries may occur from failure of the airbag to deploy, the more common injuries sustained from deployment of the airbag include but are not limited to facial injuries such as burns and fractures of the facial bones as well as fractures to the arms and hands and trunk of the body.

While airbags used in conjunction with seatbelts save numerous amounts of lives, they may also be responsible for additional injuries to passengers equipped with airbags. It is important to speak with a qualified legal expert if you believe you have been the victim of a malfunctioning airbag as soon as possible after your accident.

Return to view more information about Auto Accidents & Maryland law

FLASH

Airbag Injuries

FLASH

Think You Have A Case?

Testimonials